https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/02/amazon_mvno_us/ # # Sign in / up The Register(r) -- Biting the hand that feeds IT # # # Topics Security Security All SecurityCyber-crimePatchesResearchCSO (X) Off-Prem Off-Prem All Off-PremEdge + IoTChannelPaaS + IaaSSaaS (X) On-Prem On-Prem All On-PremSystemsStorageNetworksHPCPersonal Tech (X) Software Software All SoftwareAI + MLApplicationsDatabasesDevOpsOSesVirtualization (X) Offbeat Offbeat All OffbeatDebatesColumnistsScienceGeek's GuideBOFHLegalBootnotesSite NewsAbout Us (X) Special Features Special Features Spotlight on Databases Defense Tech Week Energy Efficient Datacenters Spotlight on RSA Emerging Clean Energy Tech Week Vendor Voice Vendor Voice Vendor Voice All Vendor VoiceAmazon Web Services (AWS) Business TransformationDDN Google Cloud for StartupsIntel vPro (X) Resources Resources Whitepapers Webinars Newsletters [networks] Networks 1 comment bubble on white Has Amazon found the ultimate lock-in? Cheap cellphone service for Prime 1 comment bubble on white Does this mean we're getting another Fire Phone? icon Tobias Mann Fri 2 Jun 2023 // 21:07 UTC # Updated Folks in the United States could soon have another option for cheaper cellphone service: Amazon Prime. Bloomberg reports that Amazon is in talks with major US carriers, including Verizon, T-Mobile US, and Dish Network, to offer low-cost phone service to Prime customers. The move isn't all that surprising. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) are a dime a dozen. Google Fi Wireless, Boost Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Straight Talk are just a handful of the dozens of options available in the US. These companies pay to use larger carriers' networks, then resell that access to customers at low prices. [networks] Amazon reportedly plans to offer service for as little as $10 a month, though it's whispered the web giant is also considering offering the service at no cost to Prime subscribers. Prime customers already pay $139 a year for access to express shipping and Amazon's streaming services, so it could be a way to inspire customer loyalty. [networks] [networks] We suppose it's a lot harder to cancel your Prime subscription if you have to go through the rigmarole of porting your number to another network or getting a new one. Amazon is hardly the first major tech or e-commerce company to go down this road. As we said, Google has operated an MVNO service under the Fi brand for years, meanwhile Walmart has Family Mobile. * Amazon finds something else AI can supposedly do well: Spotting damaged goods * Energy efficiency starts to rock telcos' 5G infrastructure choices * Amazon opens its ad-hoc Wi-Fi-sipping Sidewalk mesh to all manner of gadgets * Cheating carriers could cost web-starved Americans billions in subsidies There's no guarantee that Amazon will actually offer the service. The talks have reportedly been ongoing for the past six to eight weeks and have, at times, included AT&T in the mix. According to the report, it could be months before the House That Bezos Built starts rolling out service. Amazon Ring, Alexa accused of every nightmare IoT security fail you can imagine FYI! It's worth noting that Amazon doesn't necessarily have to choose one carrier. It's not uncommon for MVNOs to pay for access to multiple networks to ensure nationwide coverage. It's also unclear what customers might be giving up if they opt to purchase cell service through Amazon. While most MVNOs market unlimited talk, text, and data plans, just like the larger carriers, there are usually some asterisks that need to be taken into account. [networks] Limits on data speed and capped limits, access to 5G spectrum, tethering, and streaming video quality are common caveats associated with cut-rate wireless providers. MVNO traffic also tends to be deprioritized, which means customers could see their data speeds slow to a crawl in congested areas. The Register reached out to Amazon for comment on their reported plans; we'll let you know if we hear anything back. (r) Updated to add "We are always exploring adding even more benefits for Prime members, but don't have plans to add wireless at this time," an Amazon spokesperson told The Register. Make of that what you will. Get our Tech Resources # Share Similar topics * Amazon * Cellular network * Mobile Network More like these x Similar topics * Amazon * Cellular network * Mobile Network Narrower topics * 6G * AWS * Ebook * EE * Kindle * Orange * Vodafone Broader topics * Jeff Bezos * Network * Telecommunications Similar topics # Share 1 comment bubble on white COMMENTS Similar topics * Amazon * Cellular network * Mobile Network More like these x Similar topics * Amazon * Cellular network * Mobile Network Narrower topics * 6G * AWS * Ebook * EE * Kindle * Orange * Vodafone Broader topics * Jeff Bezos * Network * Telecommunications TIP US OFF Send us news --------------------------------------------------------------------- Other stories you might like Amazon finds something else AI can supposedly do well: Spotting damaged goods Any chance of an ML model to identify labor law violations? No? Surprise AI + ML2 Jun 2023 | 15 Amazon a prime target of warehouse law protecting bathroom breaks Glad these lawmakers didn't bottle it On-Prem18 May 2023 | 31 Amazon to shutter its Chinese Appstore - the one used by hardly anyone, anywhere Middle Kingdom users told to acquaint themselves with the Windows Subsystem for Android Software25 May 2023 | 7 Consistent operating costs for databases How Amazon Aurora I/O-Optimized puts predictability into I/O pricing Sponsored Feature [networks] Tech companies cut jobs to chase growth, but watch out for those shareholder returns Beancounters underestimate financial and cultural cost of mega redundancy programs On-Prem15 May 2023 | 10 Developers now able to 'customize' their Azure Virtual Desktop experience Build your own 'golden images' and then connect 'em to more stuff, says Microsoft PaaS + IaaS10 May 2023 | 1 Telcos need another $3B in Uncle Sam's cash to remove Chinese network kit, says FCC Take it Huawei? Not if they don't think Feds will refund them Networks5 May 2023 | 30 Amazon axes Halo gear as job cuts hit cloud segment 'It is a tough day across our organization,' says memo from AWS boss PaaS + IaaS27 Apr 2023 | 10 Amazon, Bing, Wikipedia make EU's list of 'Very Large' platforms Will need to sit at the front of the class where Commish can keep an eye on them Legal26 Apr 2023 | 20 Google Fi still kicking, gets third rebrand in less than a decade It's better than a one-way trip to the Graveyard Personal Tech20 Apr 2023 | 7 AWS debuts generative AI stuff so smart you might give it your money twice Updated Bedrock offers APIs for multiple models, plus EC2 instances for home-grown LLMs AI + ML14 Apr 2023 | 2 Tencent Cloud says it's mass producing custom video chips Chinese tech giant claims better performance than competing GPUs Off-Prem18 Apr 2023 | 3 The Register icon Biting the hand that feeds IT About Us* * Contact us * Advertise with us * Who we are Our Websites* * The Next Platform * DevClass * Blocks and Files Your Privacy* * Cookies Policy * Privacy Policy * T's & C's * Do not sell my personal information Situation Publishing Copyright. All rights reserved (c) 1998-2023 no-js